First Friends: The Powerful, Unsung (And Unelected) People Who Shaped Our Presidents

First Friends by Gary Ginsberg was… great. I didn’t really know what to expect with this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was led to this topic by looking for more detailed books on the friendship between Caesar Augustus and his best friend Agrippa. Agrippa was absolutely necessary to the rise of Augustus, so I wondered – who helps shapes our leaders? Especially our modern Presidents? This book answers that question.

One of the more pleasant attributes of this book is that it doesn’t focus on the obvious “best friends” of our Presidents. For example, I expected JFK’s brother, Robert Kennedy, to be JFK’s First Friend, but he wasn’t. I was happy to learn about many of these First Friends for the first time. I also enjoyed how not every story was as perfect as you’d expect. Some friendships did not end well, while others persevered through scandal, death, and more.  

All in all, this book left me missing my friends (especially during a pandemic) and cherishing the friendships I’ve made throughout my life. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is a fan of history, our Presidents and/or their personal lives and really anyone who has a friend. A great topic and an even better book.

Special note: I thought today would be a great day to post this review, on the 80th Anniversary of the “day that will live in infamy.” One of the more interest chapters in this book surrounds FDR.

C. L.